Liquid dispensing apparatus



y 1963 F. E. J. WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS v Filed Nov. 3, 1960 11 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTOR FREDERICK E. J. wiLsoN BY WM ATTORNEYS May 14, 1963 F. E. J.WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1960 11 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR FREDE icK E. J. WILSON BYWKZ;

ATTORNEY May 14, 1963 F. J. WILSON 1.1mm: DISPENSING APPARATUS 11Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 3, 1960 INVENTOR WILSOH. 'BY} IFREDER) c K wATTORNEYS y 1963 F. E. J. WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1960 11 Sheets-Sheet 4INVENTOR FREDERICK E- J WI LSON I BY k r ATTORNEYs May 14, 1963 F. E. J.WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1960 11 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR FREDERFCK E. J. WjLSON B wa flTTORNEYS y 4, 1963 F. E. J.WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1960 ll Sheets-Sheet 6 139 S OQ O O 13.9 13] I 138 I68 I22 127 I 71 INVENTOR FREDERICK E. J. WILSONATTORNEYS May 14, 1963 F. E. J. WILSON LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS 11Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Nov. 3, 1960 llllll I- rah- Z IN VE N TOR FRED Ri KE. J. WILSON BY y 9 ATTORNEYS y 4, 1963 F. E. J. WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed NOV. 5, 1960 ll Sheets-Sheet 8 I [07I0 ,7 8 102 /M m i 700 INVENTOR FREDERICK E. I WILSdN ATTORNE Y3 May 14,1963 F. E. J. WILSON 3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS- Filed Nov. 5, 1960 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN VENTOI? ,FREDERIQK E, J wfLso BY f x ATTORNEV May 14, 1963 F. E. J. WILSON,0

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 3, 1960- 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVEN TOR FREDERicK E. I WILSON BY M M ATTORNEYS May 14, 1963 F. J. WILSON3,089,615

LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed Nov. '5, 1960 ll Sheets-Shejet 11FKE'DERI'C K //v VENTOR E. T. wiLsoN BY 9 M 5x 71 ATTORNEYs Unite atesland

Filed Nov. 3, 1960, Ser. No. 66,980 Claims priority, application GreatBritain Nov. 6, 1959 7 Claims. (Cl. 22216) This invention relates toliquid dispensing apparatus, and more particularly to such apparatus ofthe kind in which a meter through which the liquid is passed during thedispensing operation drives a mechanism, settable according to thequantity of liquid required to be dispensed, which mechanism closes avalve to terminate the operation when the required quantity of liquidhas passed through the meter. I

The object of the invention is to'provide an improved settablemechanism, particularly for dispensing apparatus for delivering liquidin large quantities from a bulk storage or transport container, suchquantities consisting, for example of several hundreds or even somethousands of gallons.

According to the present invention, in liquid dispensing apparatusincluding a displacement meter, drum type counter means manuallysettable to show the quantity of liquid to be dispensed and driven bythe said meter to return them to the zero position, a valve openedmanually and closed automatically by means operated by the return ofsaid counter means to the zero position to stop the flow of liquidthrough the meter, and a clutch to disengage the drive to said countermeans from said meter, the valve is held open by latch means including aplurality of latch members each co-operating with an abutment associatedwith a ditferent one of the counter drums and moved to release the saidlatch member by return of the associated counter drum to the zeroposition, the arrangement being such that only the latch memberco-operating with the abutment on the highest order drum displaced fromits zero position at any given time is in engagement with its abutment.

Preferably the abutments are pivotally mounted on a supporting shaft andare turned about their pivots to release the latch members by pawlsturning with the counter drums.

The valve may have associated with it a dashpot to damp its closingmovement.

The valve may include a main valve closure member the movements of whichare controlled by a pilot valve, and the dashpot acts on the pilotvalve.

The latch members may be arms fixed to a rotatable shaft the rotation ofwhich opens and closes the valve, each of said arms having anabutment-engaging face which is substantially tangential to a circleabout the axis of the shaft carrying the abutments when the said latchmembers are in engagement with the abutments.

The invention is hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevation of one arrangement of apparatus accordingto the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevation of the valve which is closed toterminate the delivery of liquid;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevation showing a detail of the valve shown inFIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a front elevation, on a larger scale, of the settablemechanism;

FIGURE 5 is a plan view of the settable mechanism with the coverremoved;

FIGURE 6 is an end view of the settable mechanism looking from theleft-hand end in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an end view of the settable mechanism looking from theright-hand end inFIGURE 5;

" atent FIGURE 8 is a section on the line 88 of FIG- URE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 10 is a section on the line 1010 of FIG- URE 9; 4

FIGURE 11 is a section similar to FIGURE 8, showing the parts in anotherposition;

FIGURE 12 is a scrap section on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 13 is a section on the line 1313 of FIG- URE 5;

FIGURE 14 is a section similar to FIGURE 13 but showing the parts inanother position;

FIGURE 15 is an enlarged sectional view corresponding to part of FIGURE9 and showing the clutch in the engaged position;

FIGURE 16 is a view similar to FIGURE 15 but with the parts in elevationand showing the clutch disengaged;

FIGURE 17 is a section on the line 17-17 of FIG- URE 15;

FIGURE 18 is a section on the line 1818 in FIG- URE 5, showing thepositions of various parts when the valve is open;

FIGURE 19 is a section corresponding to FIGURE 18 but showing the partsin the positions they take up when the valve is closed;

FIGURE 20 is a diagram showing the interconnection of the varioussetting knobs to the respective counter drums;

FIGURE 21 is a detail view of the interlocking mechanism looking fromthe underside; and

FIGURES 22'to 29 are explanatory diagrams showing the operation of thelatch members by the counter drums.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, aliquid meter 30 of the displacement type having a rotor (not shown)driven by the liquid flowing through it, receives liquid pumped to itfrom a storage tank in the usual manner, neither the pump nor thestorage tank being shown. The liquid leaves the meter through a conduit31 and valve 32 from which it passes through a delivery conduit (notshown) to the container to be filled.

The meter, as will be hereinafter described, drives a settable mechanism33 controlling the valve 32, and also drives a volume register 34showing the quantity of liquid delivered.

The valve 32, FIGURES 2 and 3, is pilot operated, and comprises a mainvalve closure member 35 co-operating with a seat 36 in a valve housing37 to close the passage therethrough, the closure member 35 having apiston portion 38, of larger diameter than the valve seat 36, slidablein a cylinder 39 constituting a control chame ber cap-able of receivingliquid from the upstream side of the valve through a radial passage 49in the closure member 35 and connected to the downstream side of thevalve by an orifice 41 controlled by a pilot valve 42. The pilot valve42 comprises a stem 43 having a conical tip 44 to close the orifice 41,the stem being slidable in guides in the main valve closure member 35and extending through the control chamber 39 into a chamber 45, closedby a cap 46. The end of the stem 43 which projects into the chamber'45is slotted at 47 to receive a crank pin 48 on a crank 49 mounted on oneend of a shaft 50 coupled by a linkage 51 (FIGURE 1) to a shaft 52projecting from the settable mechanism 33.

The stem 43 of the pilot valve has an annular groove 53, and the radialpassage 40 opens into a guide 54 for the said stern in such a positionthat, when the pilot valve is closed, as shown in FIGURE 1, the radialpassage 40 is opposite the groove '53 and so is freely connected to thecontrol chamber 39, whereas 'when the pilot valve is open, the saidpassage is'covered by the stem 43. The

passage 40 extends through a web supporting the guide 54 into the spacesurrounding the valve closure member. A sleeve 55 fixed in the controlchamber 39 has slidable in it a piston 56 fixed to the stem 43, theinterior of the sleeve 55 being connected to the control chamber by aport 57 adjacent its lower end, and also through a passage 58 (FIGURE 3)controlled by an adjustable needle 59, leading into the chamber 45, anda passage 61 connecting the chambers 45 and 39.

The settable mechanism, which is shown in FIGURES 4 to 21 comprises acasing 62 having windows 63, 64, 65, 66 and 67 in its front wall throughwhich are visible numerals on the peripheries of counter drums 68, 69,70, 71 and 72 respectively, hereinafter called the units, tens,hundreds, thousands and tens of thousands drums respectively. Thesedrums as shown in FIGURES 8 and 11 (the numerals being omitted from theFIGURES), are mounted on a common axis, and each of the tens, hundreds,thousands and tens of thousands drums is driven from the next lowerorder drum through a transfer gear wheel in the known manner, thetransfer gear wheels being shown at 73, 74, 75 and 76.

The units and tens drums 68 and 69 are mounted freely on a shaft 77extending into the casing 62 from the righthand end, and the hundredsdrum 70 is fixed to the shaft 77 by a set screw 78. The thousands drum71 is fixed, by a set screw 79 to a tubular shaft 80 extending into thecasing 62 from the left-hand end and receiving a reduced end portion 81of the shaft 77, and the tens of thousands drum 72 is rotatably mountedon the tubular shaft 80.

The transfer gear wheels 73, 74, 75 and 76 are mounted on a shaft 82slidable longitudinally in the casing 62, the transfer gear wheel 73being rotatable on the shaft 82 and being held against sliding movementwhilst the transfer gear wheels 74, 75 and 76 are both rotatable on andslidable with the said shaft. A push button 83 is provided at theleft-hand end of the casing 62, and is operable to move the shaft 82towards the right. At its righthand end, the shaft 82 has pivotallymounted on it, so as to be rockable in a diametral plane of the saidshaft, a pair of hook members 84 (FIGURE 8) each formed with a radiallyprojecting tail 85. The hook members 84 lie within a stepped sleeve 86and, when the shaft 82 is moved to the right, the hook members 84 aremoved outwardly by a coiled compression spring 87 acting between thetails 85 and the end of the sleeve, to engage the step in the sleeve 86and hold the shaft against return movement, as shown in FIGURE 11.

A second push-button 88 is provided at the right hand end of the casing62, the push-button 88 having a tubular stem 89 which, when the pushbutton is moved inwardly, engages inclined surfaces 91 on the hookmembers to move them off the shoulder, allowing the shaft 82 to bereturned by the spring 87.

The units drum 68 is driven by the meter through gearing which will nowbe described. The meter shaft (not shown) carries a gear wheel whichmeshes with a gear wheel 92 on a shaft 93 extending through the bottomof the casing 62, the shaft 93, as shown in FIGURES 9 and 12, carrying agear wheel 94 meshing with another gear wheel 95 on a suitable stubshaft 96, the gear wheel 95 having fixed to it a bevel pinion 97 meshingwith another bevel pinion 98 fixed on the central portion 99 of adivided shaft 99, 100, 101, extending through the casing parallel to theaxis of the counter drums.

The portion 100 of this divided shaft carries a gear wheel 102 meshingwith a driving gear 103 fixed to the counter drum 68, and a releasableclutch 104 is provided between the shaft portions 99 and 100.

The shaft portion 99 extends into a co-ax ial bore in the shaft portion100 at one end, and is journalled at its other end in a bracket 105fixed to the bottom of the casing 62. The shaft portion 100 isjourn'alled in a hearing 106 in the right-hand end wall of the casing62. The clutch 104, which is shown in FIGURES 9, and to 17 comprises adriving member 107 slidable on the shaft portion 99 and a driven member108 fixed on the shaft portion 100. The clutch driving member 107 is anoncircular plate, shown in the drawing as being square, having theedges at its corners inclined slightly to the shaft axis. The clutchdriven member 108 is a disc having a frusto-conical recess 109 in oneface to receive the driving member 107, the cone angle of the recessbeing substantially equal to the angle to the axis of the edges of thedriving member 107. The driving member 107 is mounted on a hub 111slidable on the shaft portion 99 and slotted longitudinally at 112 toengage a diametral pin 113 passing through the shaft portion 99, and isurged into the recess in the driven member by a coiled compressionspring 114 taking its abutment on a collar 115 fixed to the said shaftportion.

A two-armed lever 116 pivoted at 117 on a post upstanding from thebottom of the casing 62 has one end engaged by a flange 118 on theslidable shaft 82, and its other end engaged with a flange 119 on thehub 111 of the clutch driving member, the arrangement being such thatwhen the slidable shaft 82 is moved to the right the transfer gear wheel74, 75 and 76 are disengaged from co-operating gear wheels 121, 122, 123on the drums 70, 71 and 72, and the clutch 104 is disengaged. Thuspressing of the push-button 83 disengagcs the drive from the meter tothe units drum 68 and disengages the drive to each of the drums 70, 71and 72 from the respective next lower order drums, leaving the tens drum69 with a driving connection to the units drum 68.

The drums 70, 71 and 72 can then be set individually to any desiredposition, and the drum 68 can be rotated to set itself and the drum 69to any desired position. The drum 68 is rotated for setting by a knob124 on the outer end of the shaft portion 100 and transmits rotation tothe drum 69 through the transfer gear wheel 73. The drum 70, being fixedto the shaft portion 77, is rotated for setting by a knob 125 on thesaid shaft portion 77, and the drum 71 is rotated for setting by a knob126 on the tubular shaft 80. The drum 72 is rotated for setting by aknob 127 on the shaft portion 101, that shaft portion carrying a gearwheel 128 which meshes with the gear wheel 123 fast with the drum 72.

Each of the counter drums 69, 70, 71, 72 has pivotally mounted on it,about an axis eccentric with respect to the drum, a pawl 129 having atail 130 which is urged by a tension spring 131 against a cylindricalsurface 132 on the next adjacent drum, so that the pawl can rock in onedirection from the position in which it is held by the spring, but notin the opposite direction. A shaft 133 extending parallel to the axis ofthe counter drums has freely rotatable thereon four abutment members134, 135, 136 and 137 to cooperate respectively with the pawls 129 onthe drums 69, 70, 71 and 72, the latch member 134 being shown in endview FIG- URE 10, and the abutment member 137 which is identical withthe abutment members 135 and 136, being shown in end view in FIGURES 18and 19. The abutment members 135, 136 and 137 each comprise a metalstrip bent to U-shape and having both of its limbs apertured to receivethe shaft 133, one limb of each abutment member being extended into thepath of the cooperating pawl 129. The abutment member 134 has a similarlimb extending into the path of the pawl 129 on the drum 69. All of theabutment members 134, 135, 136 and 137 are urged about the shaft in adirection to rock their extended limbs upwardly, the pawls 129, when thedrums are in their zero posit-ions, restraining the latch membersagainst such movement.

Another shaft 138 extending parallel to the drum axis, carries fourlatch members 139, 140, 141, 142 to cooperate respectively with theabutment members 1 34, 135, 136 and 137, each latch member having a face143 a'osaei's which, when the corresponding abutment member is releasedby turning of the appropriate drum away from the zero position, canengage the said abutment member as shown in FIGURE 18. The shaft 138also has fixed to it a crank '144 on which a tension spring 145 (FIGURES 5 and 9) acts to rotate the said shaft, the engagement of any latchmember with its corresponding abutment member preventing such rotation.The shaft 52 which is connected by the linkage 51 to the valve operatingshaft 51) carries a longitudinally slotted arm 146 in the slot of whichis engaged a pin 1-47 on the crank 144, so that turning of the shaft138' causes turning of the valve operating shaft 50, and a handle 148 isalso mounted on the shaft 52 so that it can be turned by hand.

The tension spring 145 acts to turn the shaft 138 in a direction toclose the valve 32, and the abutment members 134, 135, 136 and 137, whentheir respective cooperating drums are not in the zero positionsco-operate with the latch members 139, 140, 141 and 14 2 to hold theshaft 138 in a position such that the valve is open. The latch membersare so arranged that only one of them is in engagement with itsassociated abutment member at any time, the abutment engaging surfaceson the latch members being offset one from another in a circumferentialdirection about the axis of the shaft 138 so that if the latch member142 associated with the tensof-thousands drum 72 is in engagement withthe abutment member 137, the latch members 141, 140 and 139 are spacedby small but progressively increasing distances from the abutmentmembers 136, 135 and 134, each of the latter latch members in turncoming into engagement with its associated abutment member when thepreceding one is released.

The shaft 133 carries, in addition to the abutment members, an arm 149extending towards the rear wall of the casing 62 and urged upwardly by atension spring 151. The arm 149 carries a counterweighted pawl 152cooperating with a notched disc 153 mounted on the shaft portion 100carrying the clutch driven member 108. A lug i154 on the latch member139 co-operates with a cam edge 155 on the arm 149 to hold the said arm149 in a depressed position when the shaft 133 is in the valve-closedposition, allowing the arm 149 to rise when the valve is opened to bringthe pawl 152 clear of the edge of the disc. The cam edge 155 includes astep 156 against which the lug 154 abuts when the latch member 139 isreleased to press the pawl 152 against the edge of the disc :153, andhold the shaft 133 against further movement until the pawl comesopposite the notch in the disc. A stop 157 is provided on the arm 1411to limit movement of the pawl under the influence of the counterweight.

Interlocking mechanism is provided to prevent the setting of the counterdrums from being changed whilst the valve is open, and to prevent thevalve from being opened whilst the drums are released for setting. Thisinterlocking mechanism is shown in FIGURES 9 and 21 and comprises an arm'158, pivoted at 155 in the bottom of the casing 62, the arm beingprovided adjacent its pivot with an upstanding pin 160 engaging betweentwo flanges on a collar 1G1 fixed to the shaft 82. The free end of thearm 158 co-operates with a lug .152 on the boss of the crank 144, thearrangement being such that, when the shaft 82 is in its normalposition, so that the transfer gear wheels are in their drivingpositions, and the valve is open, the lug 162 lies in the path of thearm 158 and prevent the shaft 82 from being moved longitudinally. Whenthe valve is closed, and the shaft 82 has been moved to disengage thetransfer gear wheels, the end of the arm 155 lies in the path of the lug162., thus preventing the shaft 138 from being turned to open the valve.

To facilitate accurate location of the counter drums during setting,spring-loaded detents 163 are provided which engage with the teeth ofthe driving gear wheels fast with the drums. The detents 163 are carriedby arms 164 pivoted on a spindle 165 mounted in a bracket 166 fixed tothe front wall of the casing 62, and the spring loading of the detent-sis provided by torsion springs 167. In order to reduce the resistance torotation of the drums during delivery of liquid, the detents are liftedclear of the gear wheels when the valve is opened, an arm 16%, pivotedon the shaft 133 having a cam edge 169 acted on by a roller 171i mountedon the latch member 142 to rock the said arm 168 when the valve isopened, and, through a rod 171 extending underneath hooked lugs 172 onall the detent arms 154, to lift the detents clear of the gear wheels.

Emergency closing means are provided to enable the valve to be closed atany time during delivery, regardless of the position of the counterdrums, said means being operated by a push-button 173 on the front ofthe casing 62. The push-button 173, as shown in FIGURES 13 and 14, actson the lower end of a lever 174 pivoted at 175 in the casing 62. A link176 pivoted to the lever 17 1, is pivoted at its other end to one of tworigidly connected arms 177, 173 pivoted at 179 in the casing 62, the arm177, to which the link 176 is connected acting at its free end on an arm180 fixed to the shaft 133, Whilst the arm 1'73 co-operates with thepawl 152. A tension spring 181 extending between the lever 174 and thearm 181 acts to move the push-button outwardly and to hold the arm 178clear of the pawl 152., Another arm 182 fixed to the shaft 133 carries arod 183 which, when the push-button 173 is pressed, acts downwardly onthe tails of the abutment members to move them out of the paths of thelatch members, the arm 178 at the same time moving the pawl 152 clear ofthe disc 153, so that the shaft 133 is free to move in the valve closingdirection.

The shaft 93 extends upwardly through the casing 62 and carries .at itsupper end the driving member 184 of a dog clutch for driving the volumeregister 34-.

The operation of the apparatus will now be described.

When the apparatus is idle, having completed a delivery of liquid andnot been set for another delivery, the counter drums 68 to 72 are intheir zero positions, and all the pawls 129 are in positions such as areshown in FIGURES 23, 25 and 27, so that the abutment members 134, 135,136 and 137 have their tails held down by the said pawls, and the latchmembers 139, 141 141 and 1 12 can move freely past the said abutmentmembens, allowing the shaft 138 to take up the position in which thevalve is fully closed. The latch members 142, 140 and 139 are shown inthese positions in FIG- URES 23, 25 and 27 respectively. The nose of thepawl 152 lies opposite the notch in the disc 153 (as shown in FIGURE29), so that' this pawl also offers no obstruction to the valve closingmovement of the shaft 138, and the valve is accordingly closed.

The shaft '82 is in its position towards the left, so that the transfergear wheels 73, 74, 75, 75 are in mesh with the gears on the counterdrums 6') to 72, as shown in FIGURE 8, and the clutch 194' is engaged.The detents 163are in engagement with the teeth of the gear wheels onthe counter drums, as shown in FTGURE 19.

To set the apparatus for the delivery of a quantity of liquid, thepush-button 83 is first pressed to move the shaft 82 towards the rightand disengage the transfer gear wheels 74, '75 and 76 from the gearwheels on the hundreds, thousands and tens-of-thousands drums 70, 71 and72 respectively, and also to disengage the clutch 1114 through the lever116, and set the interlocking arm 15-8 to prevent movement of the shaft138, the transfer gear wheels being shown in this position in FIGURE 11and the clutch in FIGURE 16.

Assuming that a quantity of 12,345 gallons of liquid is required to bedelivered, the knobs 124', 125, 125 and 27 are turned to set the drumsto bring the required numerals into the windows, the connections of theknobs to the various drums being shown in FIGURE 20. Thus the knob 124is rotated to turn the drum 68, and, through the transfer gear wheel'73, the drums 69, until these drums show the numerals and 4respectively, the knob 125 is rotated to bring the numeral 3 on the drum70 into the window, and the knobs 126 and 127 respectively are rotatedto bring the numerals 2 and 1 on the drums 71 and 72 opposite theWindows.

The push-button 38 is then passed to release the shaft 82 and re-engagethe clutch, at the same time re-engaging the transfer gear wheels withthe gears on the counter drums, and removing the mm 158 from the path ofthe lug 162 so that the shaft 138 is free to turn.

The handle 148 is then operated to turn the shaft 138, causing the latchmembers 139 to 142 to turn about the axis of that shaft clockwise fromthe positions shown in FIGURES 23, 24, 25 and 27. Since the abutmentmembers 134 to 137 have been released by the movement of the pawls 129with rotation of the counter drums from their zero positions, the saidabutment members, before the handle is operated, rest on the curvedupper edges of the latch members and, as the shaft 138 is turned to openthe valve, each latch member in turn moves clear of the associatedabutment member, and the latter drops into the return path of the face143 of the latch member. As described above, the faces 143 are offsetone with relation to another, so that only the face 143 on the latchmember 142 associated with the tens-of-thousands drum 72 engages itsassociated abutment member the faces 143 of the other latch membersbeing spaced from the abutment members by distances which increase withthe decreasing order of the drums. The turning of the shaft 138 to openthe valve also allows the arm 155 to rock under the influence of thespring 151 to lift the nose of the pawl 152 out of the notch in the disc1'53, and, by the action of the roller 170 on the cam edge 169 of thelever 168, lift the detents 163 clear of the gear wheels fixed to thecounter drums.

The valve 32 is opened clue to the fact that the turning of the handle143 lifts the pilot valve 42 clear of the orifice 41 in the main valveclosure member 35, and at the same time causes the stem 43 of the pilotvalve to close the passage 40. Liquid can therefore escape freely fromthe control chamber 39 of the valve, and, when the pump is brought intooperation, the pressure of the liquid lifts the main valve closuremember 35 off its seat.

Delivery then proceeds, the counter drums being driven backwardly by themeter 30 through the clutch 104 until, when 2,345 gallons have beendelivered, the tensof-thousands drum 72 returns to its zero position.During the final movement of this drum 72, the pawl 129 thereon pressesdown on the limb of the abutment member 137, lifting that abutmentmember out of the path of the latch member 142, so that the spring 145turns the shaft 138 slightly to bring the latch member 141 intoengagement with the abutment member 136. The movement of the shaft 138is insufficient to cause substantial closing movement of the valve 32.

Delivery continues until, when another 9,000 gallons have beendelivered, the abutment member 136 is similarly displaced by the returnof the thousands drum 71 to the zero position, and the latch member 140is brought into engagement with the abutment member 135 controlled bythe hundreds drum 70, after which the delivery of a further 900 gallonscauses the abutment memher 135 to be displaced, and the latch member 139engages the abutment member 134 associated with the tens drum 69.

The delivery of another 90 gallons causes the abutment member 134 to besimilarly displaced to release the latch member 139 and, when this latchmember is released, the shaft 138 is free to move through a sub-:stantial angle until the lug 154 engages the step 156 in 8 the cam edgeon the arm 149 and presses the nose of the pawl 152 against the edge ofthe disc 153 as shown in FIGURE 28, the said pawl preventing the arm 149from moving far enough for the lug 154 to ride over the step 156. i

The movement of the pilot valve 42 resulting from the rotation of theshaft 138 at this point is sutfieient to restrict the escape of liquidfrom the control chamber 39 and to open the passage 40, so that the mainvalve closure member moves towards its closed position, following up themovement of the pilot valve until the latter ceases to move, and thusreducing the opening of the main valve until the rate of flow of theliquid is materially reduced. The movement of the pilot valve is dampedby the movement of the piston 56 in the sleeve 55, due to therestriction of entry of liquid into the sleeve past the restrictor 59,so that the change of flow rate is gradual, and does not produce hammer.The new position of the pilot valve is such that a short furthermovement of the piston would expose the orifice 57.

Delivery continues at the reduced rate of flow until delivery of another10 gallons of liquid brings the units drum 68 to the zero position whenthe pawl 152 passes over the edge of the notch in the disc 153 and dropsinto that notch. In so doing the pawl allows a further movement of thearm 149 so that the lug 154 can ride over the step 156 and permit theshaft 138 to complete its movement in the valve closing direction underthe influence of the spring 145. This movement again causes the pilotvalve 42 to restrict the orifice 41 and expose the passage 40 so thatpressure can build up in the control chamber 39 to complete the closingof the main valve. Immediately after this movement of the pilot valve 42commences the orifice 57 in the sleeve 55 is exposed so that liquid fromthe control chamber can enter freely into the sleeve 55 and the finalclosing of the valve takes place at a rapid rate.

The dashpot action of the piston 56 in the sleeve 55 not only preventsliquid hammer due to a rapid change of the rate of flow of the liquidbut also ensures that the shaft 138 is retarded in its rotary movementduring the initial closing of the valve and violent impact of the partswhich engage one another at the end of this movement is avoided.

The effort necessary to disengage the various latch members isrelatively small in view of the fact that only one of them is inengagement at any one time and the movement of the abutment memberrelative to the latch member is in the plane of the abutment face 143 onthe latch member so that only a frictional resistance has to beovercome.

The clutch 104 provides a reliable non-slip driving to the counter drumsand remains effective throughout a long life since any wear which takesplace is likely to be on the frusto-conical face of the driving member108 and will merely produce slight grooves which, if anything, willincrease the effectiveness of the clutch.

The adjustable needle valve 59 which controls the rate of flow of liquidinto the dashpot sleeve 55 enables the rate of closing of the valve tobe varied to suit the liquid being delivered and the liquid flowcharacteristics of the apparatus.

I claim:

1. Liquid dispensing apparatus comprising a displacement meter, drumtype counter means including a plurality of drums and transfer gearingto transmit motion from each of said drums to the next higher orderdrum, setting means to set the said drums to show a quantity of liquidto be dispensed, driving means for said drums operated by said meter todrive said counter means to the zero position, a valve to control theflow of liquid through said meter, manual opening means for said valve,valve closing means, and latch means controlled by the counter drums tohold the valve open at the start of driving of the counter by the meterwhile permitting partial operation of said valve closing means duringsaid driving and complete closing of the valve when the count or reachesthe zero position, said latch means including a series of latch membersarranged upon individual release to sequentially permit incrementalvalve closing movements of said valve closing means, a plurality ofabutment members each arranged to engage one latch member and hold it ina latching position preventing movement of said valve closing means, anda plurality of trip members each operated by one of the counter drums tomove one of said abutment members so as to release its correspondinglatch member when that drum reaches its zero position, the latch membersand abutment members being so arranged that only the latch membercooperating with the abutment member associated with the highest orderdrum displaced from its zero position at any given time is in engagementwith and held in latching position by an abutment member.

2. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theabutments are pivotally mounted on a supporting shaft and are turnedabout their pivots to release the latch members by said trip membersturning with the counter drums.

3. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the valvehas associated with it a dashpot to damp its closing movement.

4. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the valveincludes a main valve closure member the movements of which arecontrolled by a pilot valve, and the dashpot acts on the pilot valve.

5. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the dashpotincludes a piston movable in a 19 chamber into which liquid flows duringthe valve closing movement through an orifice controlled by anadjustable restricting device.

6'. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the latchmembers are arms fixed to a rotatable shaft forming part of said valveclosing means and the rotation of which closes the valve, each of saidarms having an abutment-engaging face which is substantially tangentialto a circle about the axis of the shaft carrying the abu-tments when thesaid latch members are in engagement with the abutments.

7. Liquid dispensing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a latchmember and co-operating abutment are provided in association with eachdrum of the counter 1 except the lowest order drum, partial closing ofthe valve being eifected by release of the latch member associated withthe next higher order drum and the valve being held in the partiallyclosed position by a pawl resting on the edge of a disc rotating withsaid lowest order drum and arranged to enter a notch in said disc whenthe said lowest order drum returns to its zero position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,301,781 Anderson Apr. 22, 1919 1,919,828 Crosby July 25, 19332,322,712 Hazard June 22, 1943 2,538,243 Hazard et a1. Jan. 16, 19512,769,571 Thoresen Nov. 6, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 709,932 Great BritainJune 2, 1954

1. LIQUID DISPENSING APPARATUS COMPRISING A DISPLACEMENT METER, DRUMTYPE COUNTER MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF DRUMS AND TRANSFER GEARINGTO TRANSMIT MOTION FROM EACH OF SAID DRUMS TO THE NEXT HIGHER ORDERDRUMS, SETTING MEANS TO SET THE SAID DRUMS TO SHOW A QUALITY OF LIQUIDTO BE DISPENSED, DRIVING MEANS FOR SAID DRUMS OPERATED BY SAID METER TODRIVE SAID COUNTER MEANS TO THE ZERO POSITION, A VALVE TO CONTROL THEFLOW OF LIQUID THROUGH SAID METER, MANUALLY OPENING MEANS FOR SAIDVALVE, VALVE CLOSING MEANS, AND LATCH MEANS CONTROLLED BY THE COUNTERDRUMS TO HOLD THE VALVE OPEN AT THE START OF DRIVING OF THE COUNTER BYTHE METER WHILE PERMITTING PARTIAL OPERTION OF SAID VALVE CLOSING MEANSDURING SAID DRIVING AND COMPLETE CLOSING OF THE VALVE WHEN THE COUNTERREACHES THE ZERO POSITION, SAID LATCH MEANS INCLUDING A SERIES OF LATCHMEMBERS ARRANGED UPON INDIVIDUAL RELEASE TO SEQUENTIALLY PERMITINCREMENTAL VALVE CLOSING MOVEMENTS OF SAID VALVE CLOSING MEANS, APLURALITY OF ABUTMENT MEMBERS EACH ARRANGED TO ENGAGE ONE LATCH MEMBERAND HOLD IT IN A LATCHNG POSITION PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID VALVECLOSING MEANS, AND A PLURALITY OF TIPS MEMBERS EACH OPERATED BY ONE OFTHE COUNTER DRUMS TO MOVE ONE OF SAID ABUTMENT MEMBERS SO AS TO RELEASEITS CORRESPONDING LATCH MEMBER WHEN THAT DRUM REACHES ITS ZERO POSITION,THE LATCH MEMBERS AND ABUTMENT MEMBERS BEING SO ARRANGED THAT ONLY THELATCH MEMBER COOPERATING WITH THE ABUTMENT MEMBER ASSOCIATED WITH THEHIGHEST ORDER DRUM DISPLACED FROM ITS ZERO POSITION AT ANY GIVEN TIME ISIN ENGAGEMENT WITH AND HELD IN LATCHING POSITION BY AN ABUTMENT MEMBER.